The word on the street today is that Scott Brison has been busy trying to engineer a vote of non confidence in the government before Jim Flaherty is even allowed to read his budget on March 22nd. These rumours began to spread the day after Jack Layton had major hip surgery, which should take him at least a few weeks to recover from. Perhaps the timing of the Liberal accelerated election plans and Jack's surgery is just a coincidence. It seems too callous, even for Iggy, to fast-track an advantageous quick election because of the health of an opponent.
The more plausible scenario is that the Liberals may be worried that Canadians might like the budget. They have committed to voting against it regardless of what's in it, and it could be a great budget. The upside of withdrawing support for a budget months before it is even written is that you force the other opposition parties to be seen as the ones responsible of either forcing an election or propping up the Harper government. There is however a downside, and that it boxes you into a corner if the budget turns out to be a good one. It also withdraws you as a negotiator and thus contributor to the legislation.
Today on CBC radio the guy was saying that the Liberals need Milliken to rule on Scotty's request very quickly, as parliament won't be sitting the week before the budget. My message to the Speaker is wait until after the budget. It could very well contain detailed outlines of the prison infrastructure spending, which would make Mr. Brison's current quest for fire moot.
Looks like Iffy was worried that Jack would not bring down the government over the budget.
ReplyDeleteIffy wants an election, now, and did not want to leave the decision in Jack's hands.
So while Jack is laying in the hospital, Iffy and Mulcair launch a plan, a non-confidence vote the Bloc and Dippers will have no choice but to support.
See Flaherty roll out something resembling Martin's '95 budget... and watch Count Ignotieff choke on it.
ReplyDeleteit seems like the media has turned on the libs, now they all of a sudden start to ask the libs the hard questions, why? who told them to?
ReplyDeleteI hope they do take down the government Cause I want a Majority Conservative government. and if there at 43 percent in polls. sure no problem.
ReplyDeleteThe coalition of losers agreement is still in force,
ReplyDeleteuntil June 30, 2011.
And a few weeks ago the Bloc formalized their support for the coalition (the original agreement expired last year)
So did the 3 losers sign another coalition agreement, but this time not infront of the cameras, but behind closed doors?
They've gotta get it happening before Quebecor comes on line. All Liberal/All the time ends on April 18th. And personally I think it's got them really worried. We're doing well without Quebecor, can you imagine if we had a network that would challenge the MSM? Tis a thing of beauty to think about.
ReplyDeletePat, that's an interesting thought. I can't imagine that the opposition parties are too thrilled with the chance of a more balanced news network hitting the airwaves right around the time of a federal election (assuming the government is defeated on the budget, and not before).
ReplyDeleteIf they bring down the government at 3M for fluff reasons, Canadians should punish them big time at the polls. I doubt whether this is Iggy`s plan, as he will be on the way out ... This is a Toronto-Montreal coalition of losers plot, and they are freaked and desperate.
ReplyDeleteThe last thing we need is an election campaign during tax season. Especially one on May 2nd, which is the 2011 deadline for filing T1's.
ReplyDelete